After Entering the Book, I Brought the Kids to Find Their Father Who D

by Usui Takumii

ied Early. not mine, asia novel. Beware edited mtl.

3. 21 to 30

Chapter 21: That's All

Gu Heng glanced at her, "I didn't remember." After saying that, he looked at her again, "We met before at the Yan family, when Aunt Yan introduced us. I really didn't remember your name; I was in a hurry to go on a mission. This is the second time we've met."

His gaze seemed to say, "Relaxed now?"

Su Zhaozhao coughed, "I just asked."

No wonder he's the male lead; he's quite perceptive!

Seeing her like this, Gu Heng smiled and lowered his head.

Her personality seemed different from what he remembered. So many years had passed; it was normal for people to change and grow over time.

There was no rule against talking during meals in their family. The two children called out to their father, which instantly broke down the years of unfamiliarity. They talked more, and Gu Heng asked questions here and there, making the atmosphere at the dinner table increasingly warm and harmonious.

"Every summer, we go up trees to collect cicada nymphs, which can be sold for money."

"I did that when I was young too. Back then, I remember selling them to the herbal medicine shop for one silver dollar per pound."

"Really? We caught a big bag and only got sixty-seven cents..."

"Of course."

"Can you catch fish?"

"I used to be the swimming champion in my unit..."

"Wow! Amazing!"

After dinner, they were still not done talking and continued at the guesthouse.

These two kids really listened to Aunt Guo and told everything about the village.

For example, how formidable their aunt was, how people in the village loved to gossip, and how hard their mother worked.

Gu Heng was originally happy, but his face darkened when he heard these things.

The expression of deep concern was vividly displayed before Su Zhaozhao.

Gu Heng left just before lights-out at the military base. Before leaving, he took out a wad of money and tickets from his pocket, "Take this. Buy whatever you need. I might not have much time later. When I'm on leave, I'll take you all to the city for a trip."

Su Zhaozhao smiled and accepted it, "Go ahead with your work. Don't worry about us. We can go to the city ourselves."

"Can you manage on your own?"

Su Zhaozhao lifted her chin, "Don't underestimate me. Back then, I walked hundreds of miles back to my parents' home while pregnant. Now, I've brought two children across a thousand miles to find you. Going to the city won't be a problem. My nose is right above my mouth; I won't get lost."

Gu Heng smiled; he had underestimated her.

As soon as Gu Heng left, Su Zhaozhao hurriedly counted the money.

Three hundred yuan! And various kinds of tickets.

Her purse was finally full!

At the Yan family's house.

"...That's the situation, Shuxin. I really feel guilty towards you. I never expected Captain Gu's wife and children to be alive and to find him through a newspaper. I was shocked when Brother Yan told me!"

The Yan family's house was about the same size as the Gu family's, but it looked much better, with red bricks and blue tiles. The courtyard was paved with blue bricks, and flowers and plants lined both sides. Inside, the house was finely decorated with curtains and window screens. A radio sat on a cabinet, a clock hung on the wall, and an old record player stood in the corner.

Ye Shuxin sat on the sofa, sipping coffee from a white cup with camellia flowers printed on it. She shook her head, "It's not your fault."

She put down the coffee cup and smiled, "In fact, we should be happy for Captain Gu's family. If it weren't for the mismatch, I would have even thought of sending a gift."

Yu Huixin sighed, "It's just a pity for you. You saw Gu Heng's rural wife... To be honest, you two were the most compatible."

She really felt sorry!

Ye Shuxin shook her head, "Yu Sister, let's not talk about this anymore. It would be awkward if the parties involved found out. There wasn't even a formal meeting, so there's no point in talking about compatibility. Let's just leave it at that."

After finishing her coffee, Ye Shuxin left. As soon as she was gone, Yan Guang came out from another room, "We shouldn't have mentioned it so early. Old Gu didn't know anything, and you eagerly proposed the match to Xiao Ye, even having her meet Old Gu at home."

Yu Huixin crossed her arms and rolled her eyes, "How was I supposed to know this would happen? I just wanted to make sure Shuxin wouldn't miss out, so I had her meet him in person. Who knew Shuxin would like him, and then something went wrong with Gu Heng."

What a perfect match! A talented man and a beautiful woman.

Although Gu Heng was a bit older than Shuxin, he had no mother-in-law issues. He became a colonel in his early thirties, half a rank higher than Lao Yan. If they had married, the relationship between the two families would have been even closer, and they could support each other in the military. What a great arrangement!

Unfortunately!

Yan Guang snorted, "You were worried Xiao Ye wouldn't like him, but why weren't you worried that Old Gu wouldn't like her? If Old Gu hadn't liked her, even if his wife and children hadn't shown up, it would have been for nothing!"

Yu Huixin glared, "Shuxin is beautiful and excellent. Why wouldn't he like her? With her looks and job, she could marry a commander!"

Yan Guang covered her mouth, "You really have a wild imagination! How old is the commander? How old is Xiao Ye? If someone hears you, there will be a lot of gossip!"

Yu Huixin pushed his hand away, "I'm just talking at home. Who would know if you don't tell anyone? Stop it! Where's Xiaowen? Why hasn't he come back yet?"

"I'm always at the base. You're the one who takes care of the children. Ask me?"

Yu Huixin rolled her eyes again, stood up, and walked to the record player to put on a record.

Seeing this, Yan Guang opened his mouth. When the music started, he muttered softly, "Such soft and sweet music..."

Over the next two days, Su Zhaozhao waited for the house to dry and began buying things to decorate it.

Most of what the family needed could be bought from the Supply and Marketing Cooperatives. To avoid missing anything, Su Zhaozhao made a list, starting with kitchen essentials: firewood, rice, oil, salt, soy sauce, vinegar, bowls, plates, chopsticks, and a large kettle for boiling water.

Bedroom necessities like bedding were also indispensable. Gu Heng's dormitory had two single-sized quilts and sheets, which would be perfect for the two children when they moved in. They only needed to buy one more quilt, and it would be wise to have an extra set of quilt covers and sheets for washing.

She listed each item, and there were quite a few.

Fortunately, Gu Heng had given her enough money; otherwise, it wouldn't have been enough.

Luckily, Su Zhaodi could read and write, having learned from her father-in-law, who was once a teacher, during her years as a child bride. Otherwise, she wouldn't even dare to hold a pen.

Tucking the note into her pocket, Su Zhaozhao called out to Gu Xiang and Gu Nian, "Let's go to the Supply and Marketing Cooperatives."

They had come to the new house early in the morning after breakfast, and Su Zhaozhao had cut up the most patched piece of clothing to use as a rag.

Hearing her call, Gu Xiang and Gu Nian put down their rags and followed her.

"Oh, don't forget to bring the empty bottles; we need to return them for a refund." It was just right to return the net bag as well.

As they stepped out of the gate, Su Zhaozhao took out the key to lock the door. At that moment, the gate of the neighboring courtyard opened.

The face looked familiar.

"It's you?" Su Zhaozhao recalled; this was the woman she had met at the Supply and Marketing Cooperatives yesterday while buying cloth. They had exchanged greetings.

"Hello, what a coincidence."

The woman smiled warmly, "Yes, quite a coincidence. My husband told me last night that Captain Gu's family would be moving in next door. I was thinking about when to drop by and say hello, but it turns out we've already met."

The woman introduced herself, "My husband's surname is Zhou, and he's the political commissar of the Second Regiment. My name is Wang Chunhua."

Su Zhaozhao said, "Sister Wang. I'm Su, you can call me Zhaodi."

Chapter 22: Neighbor

Wang Chunhua was very warm-hearted, "How's the house cleaning going? If you need any help, just let me know. We're neighbors, so don't be shy."

"It's almost done, but I still need to buy a few things. I was just about to head to the Supply and Marketing Cooperatives."

"Shall we go together?"

"Sure."

Su Zhaozhao asked Gu Xiang and Gu Nian to call out.

"Aunt Wang."

"Ah! What good children! Not like my little monkey, who knows where he's run off to this early morning."

Wang Chunhua was in her late thirties, with three children—two boys and a girl. The eldest had grown up and was serving in the military, though not here. The second child, a daughter, was fifteen and attended junior high school in the city, living on campus and returning home once a month. The youngest son was the same age as Gu Xiang.

"Just right, the same age, they'll get along well," Wang Chunhua said to Gu Xiang and Gu Nian. "When Xiaojun comes back, I'll have him come play with you."

Gu Xiang and Gu Nian nodded.

They chatted as they walked, "I heard from Lao Zhou about your situation with Captain Gu. It must have been tough..."

Captain Gu's wife from the countryside, who hadn't died, had brought their child to find him. This news had already spread among the military officers, and when they returned home, they couldn't help but talk about it with their families. Most of the military wives in the family resettlement area had heard about it, though many hadn't seen them in person.

Wang Chunhua had only joined the military community in the past couple of years. She used to stay in the countryside, taking care of her children and farming. After hearing about this, she naturally felt a connection with Captain Gu's wife from the countryside. When they met, she felt they were kindred spirits.

The military families came from both urban and rural areas, but overall, more were from the countryside. Many of the rural wives were illiterate and, due to differences in lifestyle, found it hard to connect with those from the cities. Over time, two groups formed, each sticking to their own, barely interacting beyond polite greetings to maintain appearances.

Wang Chunhua automatically categorized Su Zhaozhao as one of the rural wives.

If Su Zhaozhao were from the city, she doubted she would have approached her.

"I never thought I'd see her again in this lifetime..." Su Zhaozhao sighed.

Wang Chunhua wasn't actually heading to the Supply and Marketing Cooperatives; she was going to the tailor shop next door. She had bought some fabric yesterday and asked the tailor to make some clothes. Today, she wanted to adjust the measurements.

"My boy is like a wild monkey; he's grown so fast these past two years. I thought the measurements I took for him before would suffice, but last night when I measured him again, he had grown even more since the last time. So, I need to adjust the measurements, or else the clothes won't fit him after two years."

Children grow quickly, so clothes are often made larger than needed.

There was a saying at the time: "New for three years, old for three years, patched for another three years."

It would be strange if new clothes were replaced every year.

Su Zhaozhao also needed to make clothes. None of the clothes for her and her two children were presentable, and they needed quite a few. She planned to buy a couple of pieces and have the rest made by a tailor.

She could sew a bit herself. During her part-time work while studying, she had done all sorts of jobs. Hearing that the piecework pay at the garment factory was high, she had worked there for two months during the summer, operating a sewing machine. While not an expert, simple styles didn't pose much of a challenge.

However, they didn't have a sewing machine at home, and the tickets Gu Heng gave her didn't include one for a sewing machine. So, making clothes herself would have to wait.

Maybe in the future, she could get one.

Seeing Wang Chunhua enter the tailor shop, Su Zhaozhao followed in to take a look.

The tailor shop was small, with a tiny storefront. The door was wide open, allowing plenty of light inside. A cutting table was piled with fabrics, and behind it sat an old tailor wearing glasses, a measuring tape around his neck, and arm protectors on his hands. He was operating the sewing machine with a 'squeak-squeak' sound.

Noticing someone enter, he glanced up over his glasses, "Your clothes will be ready in two days."

Wang Chunhua smiled and explained her purpose, "Mine hasn't started yet, has it?"

The old tailor picked up a notebook from the table, flipped through it, and made some changes, "Alright, come back in a few days."

Su Zhaozhao looked up at the price list hanging on the wall, which clearly listed the labor costs for shirts, pants, skirts, and coats.

The prices were very reasonable. Compared to the current prices of clothes sold at the Supply and Marketing Cooperatives, buying the fabric and paying for the labor would save over a yuan per shirt. No wonder everyone preferred having clothes made.

After leaving the tailor shop, they entered the Supply and Marketing Cooperatives. Su Zhaozhao returned some bottles and took out her shopping list, checking items off as she bought them.

Wang Chunhua glanced over, "You can read?"

"A little."

Wang Chunhua envied her, "That's great. I can't do it. No matter how much my daughter tries to teach me, I just can't remember. I can only write my name."

Su Zhaozhao smiled, "You're too busy, managing everything inside and outside the home. That's why you don't have the energy to learn. I learned a few characters when I was young. If it were now, I wouldn't be able to focus either."

Oh! How sweet Zhaodi speaks!

Unlike some people who think they're cultured just because they know a few words and look down on us illiterates.

"I love talking to you."

Su Zhaozhao was buying fabric to make clothes, planning to make two sets for each of them.

"This one with the round pattern looks nice. Make a dress out of it. You're still young; it will look great on you!" Wang Chunhua helped choose the fabric. She loved dresses but was hesitant to wear them herself, fearing she might look silly at her age.

"It will be cooler in half a month. Let's skip the dress and make shirts instead."

Su Zhaozhao didn't plan to buy the round-patterned fabric. She had dark skin, and plain colors suited her better. She would wait until she lightened her skin before considering such bright and beautiful patterns.

Su Zhaozhao chose two types of fabric: white for tops, a soft cotton that wasn't pure white but closer to a beige color, and a durable blue fabric for pants.

"Next month, when new fabrics arrive, we can come together. By then, the thicker fabrics will be available, perfect for making coats."

Seeing the worn-out clothes on Su Zhaozhao and her two children, Wang Cuihua knew they needed a lot. Once they were in the military, they couldn't look like refugees. Otherwise, it would be embarrassing for their husbands, and the nearby villagers might think the military conditions were poor and life difficult.

In this new era, life should only get better.

Carrying a large bundle of items, Su Zhaozhao and her companions headed to the tailor's shop.

"Master, we have business for you."

The old tailor slowly got up, taking the measuring tape from around his neck, "What do you need?"

"We need shirts and pants made."

First, they measured Gu Nian.

While measuring, the old tailor asked, "What kind of clothes do you want?"

"Use the white fabric for a long-sleeved shirt, a basic style. The blue fabric for a pair of overalls, similar to work pants, but make the straps a bit longer, and the chest area a little lower..."

Su Zhaozhao had always found work pants charming and youthful from period dramas she watched.

"For another pair, make them into long pants, with the legs a bit longer, and use thread to tie them up inside, making it easier to adjust..."

Both Gu Xiang and Gu Nian were getting a pair of overalls, but Su Zhaozhao didn't, suppressing her desire to look younger.

Chapter 23: Buying Cloth

"Sister-in-law, do you know where I can find some uncolored homespun? I don't want dyed ones; plain colors will do." The cloth at the Supply and Marketing Cooperatives was all dyed, and Su Zhaozhao didn't like any of it.

"Go to the village." Wang Chunhua pointed to the nearby village. "Almost every household in the village weaves cloth. It's cheap, and you can buy it at the price set by the acquisition station."

"Is it okay to trade privately?" Policies varied from place to place, and she wasn't familiar with the local rules yet.

Wang Chunhua waved her hand. "No problem. We're not reselling; it's just for personal use. Don't say you're buying; say you're trading. There are people in the village who raise chickens, ducks, and grow vegetables. They often sell at the crossroads. You can pay with money or grain, or even trade with the soap issued by our unit."

"That's good." Su Zhaozhao planned to go to the village in the afternoon to buy some homespun to make bed sheets, pillowcases, and curtains.

Since Su Zhaozhao bought many things, Wang Chunhua helped deliver them to her home and arranged everything.

"The good houses have all been chosen by those who arrived earlier. Only these old houses on the outskirts are left, and no one knows how long ago they were built. Otherwise, according to Captain Gu's rank, he should be living in a better house."

Su Zhaozhao smiled. "This is fine. If I didn't live here, how could I be neighbors with Sister Wang?"

"Why do you always speak so nicely?"

It was rare that someone complimented her speech so soon after meeting her. Her own parents had always complained that she couldn't speak well and didn't win the favor of their second spouses.

As noon approached, Wang Chunhua grabbed Su Zhaozhao's hand and tucked it under her arm. "Come, let's have lunch at my place today."

Su Zhaozhao tried to pull her hand away but couldn't. "No need, no need. We can eat at the canteen."

"Why the canteen? It's so expensive and not worth it. It's just a short walk to my place. Don't argue with me. Hurry up, and you can help me prepare. Lao Zhou won't be back from the unit for lunch, and neither will your Captain Gu. It'll just be us women and children eating."

She then called out to Gu Xiang and Gu Nian. "Come to Auntie's place. Auntie will make scallion pancakes for you. My scallion pancakes are so fragrant! No one has ever said anything bad about them."

Gu Xiang and Gu Nian shook their heads and looked at their mother.

Grain was precious, and this was the first time someone had invited them to eat at their home.

In the past, when they passed by their uncle's house, their aunt would close the door as soon as she saw them, afraid they might come over.

In the end, Su Zhaozhao was dragged to the next-door neighbor's house.

Upon entering the Zhou family courtyard, the first thing she saw was a yard full of vegetables and fruits. The size and layout of the courtyard were similar to the Gu family's, with a path in the middle and vegetables planted on both sides, a lush green expanse that looked very inviting.

"Sister Wang, you've grown so many vegetables! They look great!"

"I love tending to the land. Since coming to the unit, I can't farm anymore, but at least I can do something with this courtyard."

Wang Chunhua bent down to pick some vegetables. "How about a cucumber salad for lunch?"

"Sure."

The Zhou family's courtyard was a typical rural homestead, with vegetables growing in the yard, corn and peppers hanging on the walls, and a chicken coop in the corner housing two chickens.

"There are so many vegetables in the yard. I'm afraid they'll peck at them. I let them out in the afternoon to walk around. If they're kept in all the time, they won't lay eggs."

Though she came to help, Su Zhaozhao found no place to lend a hand. Wang Chunhua was quick and efficient, kneading the dough in just a few moves.

There was no need to light the stove; the fire ignited immediately when the cover of the coal stove was lifted.

While cooking in the kitchen, Wang Chunhua's youngest son, Xiaojun, returned home, shouting as soon as he entered, "Mom, I'm starving!"

Wang Chunhua, sitting at the kitchen door making pancakes, poked her head out and shouted, "You hungry ghost! As soon as you come home, you start complaining. Come and greet everyone."

Zhou Xiaojun first saw Gu Nian and Gu Xiang, his eyes filled with curiosity. "Who are you? What are you doing in my house?"

"My name is Gu Xiang, and this is my sister, Gu Nian. We live next door."

Zhou Xiaojun suddenly understood. "Oh! I get it, you're Uncle Gu's children who survived!"

Gu Xiang and Gu Nian: Why does that sound so strange?

Hearing this, Wang Chunhua picked up a small wooden block and threw it at him. "What nonsense are you spouting? These are your younger brother and sister, and they're only half a year younger than you."

She then pointed to Su Zhaozhao. "This is Aunt Su. Call her."

Zhou Xiaojun scratched the back of his head. "Aunt Su."

Su Zhaozhao smiled. "Ah, Gu Xiang and Gu Nian just moved in. In the future, please take care of them and play with them more."

Being the youngest child at home, Zhou Xiaojun had never been entrusted with such a responsibility before. He puffed out his chest. "Aunt Su, rest assured! With me around, no one will dare bully them!"

Despite being only half a year older than Gu Xiang and Gu Nian, Zhou Xiaojun was almost a head taller, clearly well-nourished, unlike Gu Xiang and Gu Nian, who grew slowly due to lack of food.

Gu Xiang pouted. Who would dare bully him and his sister? He'd beat them until they cried!

The three children quickly got along and chattered non-stop during the meal.

In the afternoon, Su Zhaozhao went to the village to buy cloth without letting Gu Xiang and Gu Nian follow her. She sent them to play with Zhou Xiaojun instead.

The village was very close to the residential area, almost within walking distance. As soon as she reached the village entrance, Su Zhaozhao met an elderly woman with bound feet, leaning on a cane and carrying a basket.

"Grandma, hello."

The old lady's eyesight wasn't good, and she squinted at her for a while. "Who are you? I don't recognize you!"

Su Zhaozhao smiled. "I'm a military family member. Could I trouble you with a question?"

Hearing she was a military family member, the old lady immediately smiled. "What is it? Speak up, dear."

"It's like this. I just moved here and want to trade for some homespun..."

"Trade for cloth? Yes, yes! Come, come, follow me..." Without moving forward, she beckoned Su Zhaozhao into the village.

"Am I interrupting anything else you were doing? You can just point the way; I can go by myself." The old lady was carrying a basket, clearly heading somewhere.

"I was planning to go to the Supply and Marketing Cooperatives, but it doesn't matter if I go a bit later. I have some cloth at home."

The Supply and Marketing Cooperatives in the family resettlement area not only served the military families and affiliated units but also benefited the villagers nearby. In the past, the locals had to go to town for their market needs, but now they all came to the resettlement area, which had become a new town in its own right.

Compared to other towns, there wasn't much difference except that this one was under military jurisdiction.

Su Zhaozhao followed the old lady to her house. As soon as she stepped into the main room, she saw an old loom with half-finished cloth on it.

No one else was home; they had gone to work in the fields. Su Zhaozhao didn't go inside but waited on the doorstep.

When the old lady came out with a pile of cloth, Su Zhaozhao hurried to help.

"Dear, how much do you need?"

Su Zhaozhao took a look. "All of it."

Chapter 24 I Think He Was Reminding Me

The old lady was quite surprised, "So much? To make clothes? The fabric at the Supply and Marketing Cooperatives is so beautiful, with flowers and colors. You're not like us villagers who lack cloth coupons; why would you exchange for coarse cloth to make clothes?"

The old lady asked many questions, but Su Zhaozhao didn't find it bothersome, "Not for clothes, but for bed sheets and pillowcases. I just moved here, and my home lacks everything. The fabric at the Supply and Marketing Cooperatives is indeed beautiful, but it's expensive and requires cloth coupons, which isn't cost-effective."

A pure cotton double bed sheet with floral patterns costs 8.9 yuan per piece, and it also requires cloth coupons. Pillowcases are even more expensive.

The money Gu Heng gave her was enough, but cloth coupons were limited. She and the two children lacked clothes, so Su Zhaozhao didn't plan to waste them on bed sheets and pillowcases.

"It is quite expensive," the old lady mused, "Our village chief's daughter had a pink floral bed sheet and quilt cover from the Supply and Marketing Cooperatives as part of her dowry. It was so beautiful, the flowers looked almost real, making all the unmarried girls in the village envious. How could we afford such things? Having two sets of coarse cloth dowry is already very good..."

The old lady's house had plenty of fabric, and after measuring, Su Zhaozhao found it was enough.

"Daughter, does your family need a mattress?"

Su Zhaozhao was taken aback, "Yes!"

In the countryside, beds were padded with straw, replaced annually. The new home's bed was unsuitable for this, as the wooden boards were too hard. Laying bed sheets directly wouldn't work. While quilts were soft, they required coupons, and even if she had both, she wouldn't dare use them as padding in an era of severe material shortages, fearing ridicule.

"Wait a moment." Hearing her answer, the old lady got up and left. Soon, she returned with a middle-aged man carrying a mattress.

Su Zhaozhao's eyes lit up, "Is this a mattress made from mountain palm bark?"

"Yes," the old lady replied, "Only a few families in our village grow mountain palm trees, and they take great care of them. They keep the bark for making mattresses. It's very comfortable to sleep on, but it's quite troublesome to make."

Things that are troublesome to make are never cheap, being handmade.

Villagers were frugal, and few were willing to spend money on such items. Straw was a better choice.

Thus, business wasn't good.

Hearing that Su Zhaozhao was new to the area, the old lady quickly recommended it, knowing soldiers received allowances and weren't short of money.

The mattress the man brought was a double bed size, and Su Zhaozhao asked the price.

"Six yuan," the man said, speaking little and appearing rather reserved.

Worried Su Zhaozhao might think it expensive, the old lady quickly added, "Mountain palm bark can only be harvested twice a year, so not many mattresses are made each year."

Su Zhaozhao: "Alright, six yuan. Do you have single bed mattresses? I need two more."

Although there were two single bed sheets and quilts in Gu Heng's dormitory, the padding underneath might not be suitable to bring back—there might not even be any, and if there were, they could be very old. It was better to buy new ones.

The man shook his head, "If you can wait, I can make them in two days."

"Sure."

Such a large mattress, Su Zhaozhao couldn't carry it back herself. The man agreed to deliver it, effectively recognizing her as a customer.

Su Zhaozhao paid the money, and the man carefully counted it, "I'll deliver it to your home once it's ready." Then he left.

Su Zhaozhao went to the tailor's shop with her basket.

She had bought the basket for fifty cents from the old lady's house earlier; it was very sturdy.

Meeting three times in one day, the old tailor still looked at her with raised eyebrows while sitting at the sewing machine, "Are you here to alter something?"

"No," Su Zhaozhao smiled, put down the basket, and took out the fabric, "Could you please help me make two bed sheets, two pillowcases, and some curtains if there's any leftover fabric?"

The old tailor had a pile of work and seemed reluctant, "Can't you sew them yourself at home?"

It was such a simple task, no need to think much about it, yet she wanted to hire a tailor. What a lazy person.

Su Zhaozhao shook her head firmly, "No, I can't."

Let her do it herself then.

"Master, it's just hemming. Just a few steps on the pedal and a few strokes of the hand, and it's done."

The old tailor glanced at her, "Why don't you try?"

"I can!" I'm not incapable, this old master really knows how to make money.

Even if the tailor's shop is state-owned, you still get paid.

"Can you use a sewing machine?" This time, the old tailor looked at her without peering over the top of his glasses.

Su Zhaozhao: "...It looks simple enough." In theory, she couldn't.

Hearing this, the old tailor moved aside, "Go ahead."

With a look that suggested she had no choice, he practically pushed her into it.

Su Zhaozhao wasn't intimidated, walked around the table, and sat down at the sewing machine.

She pretended to examine it, picked up a pair of trousers half-sewn on the machine, and started the sewing machine with a few pedal movements, making a 'pata-pata' sound.

"Not bad," the old tailor watched the sewing machine closely, "Alright, put it down. Don't mess up my trousers."

Su Zhaozhao enjoyed the experience and stood up, giving the seat back.

"Put it down. Come back in a few days to pick it up."

"Could you please hurry? I'm moving soon, and my home has nothing. I'm currently staying at a guesthouse."

The old tailor glanced at her, "What, do you want to cut in line?"

Su Zhaozhao smiled, "I won't cut in front of others, just move my own orders forward. Clothes can wait. Can you do that? Please."

"That's more like it." The old tailor waved his hand. "Alright, come back tomorrow to pick it up. I'll get it done for you."

"Thank you so much." Su Zhaozhao took two candies from her pocket and placed them on the counter. "Please enjoy them." She picked up her basket and left.

The old tailor smiled as he held the candies, it had been so long since anyone had offered him candy.

In the evening, Gu Heng came over and invited them to have dinner at the canteen. After the meal, they returned to their new home. Seeing that it was still early, he borrowed a hoe from the Zhou family next door.

When Su Zhaozhao came out of the kitchen, she saw him with the two children clearing stones buried in the soil.

"Is it okay to plant vegetables in the yard?" Gu Heng asked her.

"Yes." Su Zhaozhao gestured to the left side. "We can use this area. We don't need to plant as much as Sister Wang does. I plan to grow some flowers along the wall, and leave the empty space on the left side. It's spacious, and when we have time, we can gather some stone slabs and bricks to pave it, making it level so it doesn't turn into mud when it rains."

Gu Heng nodded and began digging with the hoe.

To make working easier, he had taken off his outer clothes, leaving him in a vest that revealed his strong shoulders and arms. Each time he exerted himself, the muscles in his arms bulged and then relaxed, and Su Zhaozhao watched this cycle repeat itself...

As a battle hero who had fought in many wars, Gu Heng had a keen sense of awareness. He felt her gaze from the first look, but initially paid no attention. However, as time went on... why was she still staring?

"Cough, cough!"

At Gu Heng's cough, little Gu Nian quickly lifted her head. "Daddy, are you catching a cold?"

Gu Xiang: "It's windy tonight, you should put your clothes back on."

Su Zhaozhao: ...I think he's hinting at me.

"No, I'm not sick, just clearing my throat," Gu Heng said awkwardly, unsure if it was just his imagination, but he felt his ears getting hot.

Fortunately, it was evening, and the lighting wasn't very bright.

Chapter 25: Seeds

"The kitchen is almost organized. I'm thinking of starting to cook at home from tomorrow."

Eating in the canteen isn't as cost-effective as cooking herself. Su Zhaozhao was quite frugal even before she came here; if she could do it herself, she wouldn't order takeout or eat out.

In this era, she had to engrave thriftiness into her bones even more.

Gu Heng agreed, "Stay over tomorrow night. I see the plaster on the wall has dried."

Su Zhaozhao thought for a moment, "Then bring the sheets and bedding over early tomorrow morning. I'll wash them. With such good sun these days, if I wash them in the morning, they'll dry by afternoon, and the quilts can get some sun too."

It wasn't cold enough at night to need thick quilts; a thin layer would suffice. The family could squeeze together for a few nights.

The next day, Su Zhaozhao packed her luggage, checked out, and took the children to buy steamed buns at the canteen. She carried her luggage and the buns, eating while walking to their new home.

When they arrived at the house, the gate was open. Gu Heng was setting up clotheslines in the yard, one under the eaves to avoid rain, and another with one end on the windowsill and the other on the wall.

"You can fold them away when not in use, so they don't get in the way."

Su Zhaozhao asked him, "Why did you come so early? Have you had breakfast? Did you bring the bedding?"

"I've eaten, and the bedding is inside." Gu Heng still had to go to the military base and left after a few words.

In the morning, Su Zhaozhao washed the quilt covers and sheets with Gu Xiang and Gu Nian.

She didn't have much strength, so she let Gu Nian and Gu Xiang take off their shoes and stomp in the water. The siblings played happily.

Fortunately, she had Gu Heng bring the quilts back to air out. When she opened the quilt covers, the quilts felt damp inside.

Even the unused quilt covers and sheets needed washing. She didn't know where he had stored them, but there were no desiccants, and they smelled musty.

Men, they live roughly.

These quilts probably had never been aired out.

And the pillowcases, sigh... no point mentioning it, just wash them.

Just as she finished hanging the laundry, Wang Chunhua arrived with a basket.

"Knowing you'd be cooking at home today, I brought some vegetables."

The basket was full of eggplants, cucumbers, peppers, and green vegetables.

Su Zhaozhao didn't hesitate to accept them, "Perfect, I haven't had time to go to the market yet. Now I don't have to worry about what to cook for lunch."

"Why are you washing so much?" Both clotheslines were full.

Su Zhaozhao put the vegetables in the kitchen and returned the basket, "Gu Heng brought them from his dormitory."

"No wonder."

Wang Chunhua no longer thought it was too much, "When I first came, I washed even more! My Lao Zhou isn't as tidy as your Captain Gu. His bedding might go a whole year without being washed. He'd just roll it up when it got hot and use it again the next year, regardless of the sun. He never thought to air it out."

Su Zhaozhao found it amusing, "I guess that's about right."

Not seeing Gu Xiang and Gu Nian, Wang Chunhua asked, "Where are your two? Out playing?"

"Not really, I sent them to the Supply and Marketing Cooperatives to buy soy sauce. I forgot to buy it yesterday." They also went to the tailor's shop to check if the quilt covers were ready.

"They're so obedient, unlike mine who can't sit still at home. I can't wait for school to start so the teacher can manage him."

"When does school start around here?"

"Soon, they say registration starts the day after tomorrow. By the way, are your two going to school?"

Su Zhaozhao nodded, "Gu Heng said he would handle it, so I haven't paid attention."

Wang Chunhua praised Gu Heng, "Your Captain Gu is great. Mine doesn't help with anything at home."

Su Zhaozhao smiled, "We just moved in, so he should take care of things as a father."

Raising children alone is not good.

Looking at the tilled ground in the yard, Wang Chunhua asked, "Are you planning to grow vegetables?"

"Yes, I was thinking of going to the Supply and Marketing Cooperatives this afternoon to see what seeds they have."

From small items like firewood, rice, oil, salt, soy sauce, vinegar, and tea, to larger items like fertilizers and seeds, the Supply and Marketing Cooperatives had everything.

"There's no need to buy them. I have them all! I save seeds every year. Just tell me what you need, whether it's pepper, loofah, pumpkin, winter melon, or Chinese cabbage seeds, I have them all."

Su Zhaozhao felt embarrassed taking them for free, "I'll pay for them."

"Don't mention it!" Wang Chunhua waved her hand, "You'll embarrass me. It's just a bit of seed, why talk about money? If my Lao Zhou knew, he'd scold me for sure."

Wang Chunhua's enthusiasm and kindness touched Su Zhaozhao. Like Aunt Guo, she was a warm-hearted person, making Su Zhaozhao feel warm inside. She decided to find a way to thank her properly.

Wang Chunhua, being impulsive, hurried back home and soon returned with a bag of seeds.

She placed it on the table and let Su Zhaozhao take what she needed.

Su Zhaozhao looked at the small cloth bags on the table, feeling at a loss. How could she recognize these seeds?

Although she had the original body's memories, they were like watching a movie—seeing them didn't mean knowing them. At most, she could recognize simple ones, like pumpkin seeds...

Speaking of which, pumpkins, loofahs, and winter melons, these things with 'gua' in their names, don't they look similar?

"The space is small, so we can't grow much. I'll just take a little of each."

"Alright, I'll leave some for you too." Wang Chunhua opened each bag one by one, taking a small handful from each and placing it on the table.

She never thought her sister Zhaodi wouldn't recognize seeds.

"The unused ones should be kept in bags, preferably like this, to prevent them from getting damp. If they sprout before the right season, they'll be wasted."

Su Zhaozhao nodded.

After giving the seeds, Wang Chunhua went home. Gu Xiang and Gu Nian returned with the soy sauce bottle, handing over the remaining money to Su Zhaozhao, "The old master said to come back in the afternoon to pick it up."

Gu Nian had a candy in his mouth, "When we went, the old man was making ours."

Su Zhaozhao: "Who gave you the candy?"

There was candy at home, and Su Zhaozhao gave them one each morning, not allowing them to eat too much to avoid cavities.

"The old man gave it to me. It's the same as what we bought at home. He also gave one to my brother, but we didn't want it. He insisted, saying he couldn't eat it all himself."

Yesterday, she had given him two candies, and today he returned them to the children. This old man was really something.

Looking at the seeds on the table, Su Zhaozhao had an idea.

"I have a task for you two. Wrap each type of seed in paper and write the name of the seed on the outside."

Pausing, she asked, "Do you know how to do that?" If they didn't, she would have to plant blindly.

Gu Xiang and Gu Nian nodded, "Of course we do." How simple!

Good!

"I'll leave it to you then. I need to start cooking."

Gu Xiang felt that such a small task didn't require both of them, "Let my sister handle it; I'll help Mom cook."

Gu Nian: "Sure thing."

Su Zhaozhao almost overflowed with maternal love, oh my! How obedient!

Chapter 26: This is the Real World

It was Su Zhaozhao's first time cooking in her new home using a coal stove. She had never used one before, so it took some effort to get the fire started, but once it was going, she didn't need to tend to it constantly—it was perfect!

She hadn't gone to the market, and there was no meat at home, so she used the vegetables Wang Chunhua had given her to make braised eggplant with sauce and stir-fried greens.

Here, they ate both rice and steamed buns. As a southerner, Su Zhaozhao preferred rice, so she cooked a pot of rice for lunch.

Gu Xiang and Gu Nian relished their meal!

"The food Mom makes is really delicious!"

"Of course it's delicious with oil, ingredients, and sauce."

The original body's culinary skills were quite good; she remembered being able to cook well when she lived with the Gu family. Later, after falling on hard times and returning to her parents' home, she had to raise her children alone. Just having enough to eat was a challenge, let alone affording oil and sauce, which naturally affected her cooking.

Before dinner, Gu Nian had completed the task Su Zhaozhao had assigned him. She picked it up and examined it; the handwriting was really neat. Some seeds he recognized but didn't know how to write, so he drew pictures on the paper bags, which looked quite realistic.

"Unfamiliar characters can be written in pinyin..." Su Zhaozhao paused here, remembering that according to history, the official implementation of Pinyin should have been in 1958.

Schools at this time did not yet teach Pinyin.

"If you don't know a character, ask me, and I'll teach you."

Gu Nian leaned over, "I don't know how to write 'chili,' I haven't learned it yet."

Su Zhaozhao asked her to bring a pen and wrote the characters for "chili" on the paper.

After writing, she suddenly remembered that the current font might not have been fully simplified yet, as the simplification of Chinese characters was implemented gradually over the years.

However, during her time here, whether it was the signs outside or the characters on tickets, or even the seed names written by Gu Nian, Su Zhaozhao had not seen a single traditional character. According to history, traditional characters should still have been in use at this time.

Right, only the newspaper from a few years ago, which featured Gu Heng as a war hero, contained traditional characters.

What did this mean?

Was it an error caused by the author's lack of detailed historical knowledge?

So, could she understand that the general direction of history had not changed, but small details had been overlooked?

During her time here, the people she met, the obedient children, the handsome male lead, all felt incredibly real. Su Zhaozhao had never thought this was a fictional world, nor had she ever considered them mere characters from a book.

To her, this was a real world. If it were fake, where would Sujia Village, which had never appeared in any book, come from?

Automatic world-building by consciousness?

Su Zhaozhao shook her head; it wasn't like that. She believed this world had deviated from its original setting, which was why she existed.

If this were just a book, she would have to worry about Gu Heng, since he was the male lead, and she was not the female lead in the story.

Speaking of which, would the book's plot affect Gu Heng?

Did he really have no feelings for the female lead?

Su Zhaozhao felt she was overthinking...

Initially, she wanted to find work, but now she was worried about the man running off with another woman.

Sigh! Men are truly a distraction!

After eating, they rested at home for a while. Then Su Zhaozhao, carrying a basket, went out, with Gu Xiang and Gu Nian following her.

She had originally planned to send them to play with Xiaojun, but both children refused, saying they wanted to help at home.

Su Zhaozhao first went to the market. She intended to buy some meat, but after looking around, she found no meat stalls with any meat left. The stalls with "meat" signs were empty, indicating they had sold out. In the future, she would have to arrive earlier if she wanted to buy meat.

She bought some garlic and onions and saw two pieces of tofu left at a tofu stall. She managed to buy them before the next customer arrived.

A nearby aunt with a basket sighed in disappointment.

Su Zhaozhao happily left the market with Gu Xiang and Gu Nian.

After leaving the market, the three of them went to the tailor's shop. The old tailor was busy and gestured them to a corner.

Su Zhaozhao paid the fee and, without disturbing him, put the newly made bed sheets and pillowcases into her basket and headed back home.

"We still have a lot to do this afternoon; we need to wash all these."

For anything new, especially items that came into contact with the body, whether clothes or bedding, Su Zhaozhao couldn't accept them without washing them first.

"Okay, let's go back and fetch water first," Gu Nian said, holding the tofu and running home, with Gu Xiang chasing after her.

Su Zhaozhao smiled, "Take it easy, don't fall."

Before washing, Su Zhaozhao laid out the bed sheets on the bed to check the fit. They were just right, with no extra material. Actually, a bit more fabric hanging over the edges would look better.

Since Su Zhaozhao hadn't specified, the old tailor naturally made them as efficiently as possible.

He had made two sets of bed sheets, two pillowcases, and two curtains, all complete and nothing missing.

The curtains, like the bed sheets, were just the right length and width to cover the windows. Multiple pleats were not something that existed in this era.

"Really tired!" Finally, everything was washed, and Su Zhaozhao didn't want to move a finger. She missed her washing machine immensely.

Speaking of which, when did washing machines become available in China? She was about to give up.

Her little daughter, Gu Nian, stood behind Su Zhaozhao and massaged her shoulders, "Mom, does it feel good?"

"It feels good!" Although the strength was slight, the gesture was touching. The original body had done a great job raising these two children.

The predecessors planted the trees, and she, the latecomer, was now enjoying the shade.

After Gu Nian had massaged her enough, Gu Xiang took over, and Su Zhaozhao shamelessly enjoyed it for quite a while. Fortunately, she still had some sense of shame and didn't let the two kids keep massaging her indefinitely.

At the camp gate.

Gu Heng strode forward with a bag of fruit in hand.

"Laogu, wait! Why are you running so fast?" Yan Guang chased after him.

Gu Heng glanced back at him, "Do you need something?"

"Can't I call you if I don't need anything?" Yan Guang shot him a look, "You used to live in the dorms, now you live outside. Can't we walk together after work since we're on the same route?"

Gu Heng didn't respond but slowed his pace a bit.

"How's the house coming along? Your sister-in-law and the kids have been here for a few days, and I haven't even seen them yet."

"Are you trying to pressure me into treating you to a meal?"

Yan Guang: "...You really know how to hit the nail on the head!"

Gu Heng smiled, "In a couple of days, I'll let you know."

"I'm not just doing this for the food!" Yan Guang explained, "I mainly want to meet your sister-in-law and the kids early. I spend all day at the camp, and when I think about stopping by after work, I worry it might be inconvenient for them. My wife has to work too, so she hasn't had time to go over and help either."

Gu Heng patted his shoulder, "I understand."

Eager to get home, he quickened his pace again, and Yan Guang had no choice but to follow. As they approached Yan Guang's neighborhood, they ran into Yu Huixin, who had just finished work.

"Captain Gu, how's the house coming along? Do you need any help?"

Gu Heng: "No need, it's almost done. Once it's ready, I'll invite you all over for a visit."

Yu Huixin smiled, "It's been busy at the office, and I've been meaning to offer my help. I hope your sister-in-law won't mind."

"She won't." Without further conversation, they arrived at Yan Guang's house and parted ways.

Chapter 27: The Taste of Home

Yu Huixin stared at his back for a while before Yan Guang asked, "What are you looking at?"

Yu Huixin pouted her lips, "See that? He's carrying a bag of apples. We haven't seen apples in the Supply and Marketing Cooperatives for ages. I wonder where he managed to get them from."

"Want some apples?" Yan Guang was always good to his wife, known as a model husband in the military. "I'll check if there's a car going into the city these days and ask someone to bring a few pounds back."

Yu Huixin didn't refuse, "I just feel it's a waste."

Yan Guang finally caught on, giving her an exasperated look, "Why do you keep bringing this up? Xiao Ye said not to mention it anymore."

Yu Huixin glared at him, "Can't even mention it? Might as well sew my mouth shut!" She turned and walked into the house, "Everyone acts so deep in love. I think if it weren't for the kids, Gu Heng might not have kept that country wife."

"You know better?" He chased after her, asking, "Why wouldn't he want her? I've never met Laogu's wife, but I know she's a good woman. A good woman, any man with eyes wouldn't let go of!"

This kind of thinking is dangerous and needs to be corrected!

Yu Huixin shot back, "Is the wife of the battalion commander from the Second Regiment a good woman? She served her in-laws for over ten years, but still got divorced because of an arranged marriage. The battalion commander then married a city girl. Haven't you seen enough of such things? Don't try to silence me with your 'good' or 'bad'!"

"I'm not silencing you; you're the one silencing me."

"Anyway, Laogu is different!"

That's exactly why it's more of a pity, how perfect for Shuxin.

If Su Zhaozhao knew there was such an enthusiastic matchmaker here, she would probably give her a good scolding.

She was cooking at home, using the eggplants that Sister Wang had brought over in the morning. There were still some left, and she planned to make a tofu and eggplant hot pot.

First, she fried the tofu in oil over low heat until both sides were golden brown, then removed the tofu. Next, she stir-fried the peeled eggplants until they were soft, and then set them aside to prepare the sauce. Since she didn't have a clay pot, Su Zhaozhao made a simplified version, which still turned out quite well.

Su Zhaozhao bought two blocks of tofu. With no refrigerator in this weather, it was best not to leave it overnight, so she decided to make two tofu dishes, one being a very home-style braised tofu.

When Gu Heng returned home, she was frying the tofu. As soon as he stepped into the courtyard, he smelled the aroma of tofu, and his lips curved involuntarily.

His gaze swept across the yard, and he raised an eyebrow in surprise when he saw the sheets and bed covers drying. Why did she wash so much?

"Back already?" The coal stove was right outside the kitchen door, and Su Zhaozhao peeked out and saw him.

"Yes, back." A simple sentence, yet it made Gu Heng feel a bit dazed. How long... had it been since he heard those words?

"Why did you wash so much?"

Without lifting her head, Su Zhaozhao focused on the tofu in the pan, "The sun is good, and there's nothing else to do, so I washed everything. You can start collecting the dry ones; we need to make the beds later."

Gu Heng went to the main room, where Gu Xiang and Gu Nian were studying old textbooks at the desk in the west room. School was about to start, and they were worried about falling behind. "Dad."

He responded, "I bought some apples. Remember to wash them before eating." After putting down the fruit, he washed his hands at the faucet, dried them, and began collecting the dry sheets and covers.

Gu Xiang and Gu Nian stopped reading their textbooks and ran over to help.

Being small, they helped Gu Heng by holding the collected items as he bundled them up and passed them over.

Su Zhaozhao peeked out several times.

In the evening, the sun was almost setting, casting a rosy glow over the courtyard. Under the clothesline, the tall man in military uniform reached up to take the sheets, with two children looking up at him, one holding a bundle of sheets, the other tiptoeing to reach out...

The scene was heartwarming.

Unfortunately, she was holding a spatula. If she had a camera, she would have captured this moment.

Before nightfall, Su Zhaozhao finished cooking.

"Wash your hands and come eat!"

"Coming!"

After collecting the sheets and covers, Gu Heng took the two children to sow seeds in the vegetable garden, planting some of the garlic and green onions Su Zhaozhao had bought at the market earlier. In no time, all the seeds were planted.

This was the first family dinner in their new home.

"We should have bought some wine," Su Zhaozhao said as soon as they sat down, realizing she had forgotten.

Gu Heng: "There's some in my dormitory. I'll bring it back tomorrow."

"Do you have other things in your dormitory that you haven't brought back?" Like clothes and shoes.

"Yes, just some small items. I'll bring them back tomorrow." He should have brought them today, but he was eager to get home and forgot.

The tofu Su Zhaozhao made was praised by the two children, and Gu Heng also found it delicious, feeling the warmth of home. No matter how good the food in the canteen was, it couldn't compare to this.

"There's no clay pot at home, and I haven't seen any for sale in town. If there were, this tofu and eggplant hot pot would be even more flavorful."

"It's already very delicious," Gu Heng complimented.

No one dislikes being praised. Su Zhaozhao proudly lifted her chin, her eyes shining.

Gu Heng glanced at her, finding her like a little girl at this moment.

When he left home, she was indeed a little girl.

Seeing the apples on the table, Su Zhaozhao asked, "Where did you buy them?"

At the Supply and Marketing Cooperatives and the market, she hadn't seen any fresh fruits, only canned goods.

"Today, there was a car from the military going into the city. I asked someone to bring a few pounds. Eating one a day is good for health. I'll ask again when they're gone. Don't forget to eat eggs too. If you can't find them at the Supply and Marketing Cooperatives, let me know."

"Okay." Su Zhaozhao increasingly felt that Gu Heng was a good man.

If only there was such a man chasing after her in her previous life, she would have been single no longer.

The dessert tonight was apples. After a full meal, each of them held half an apple and started munching.

This was the first time Gu Xiang and Gu Nian had tasted apples. Since finding their father, they had experienced many firsts.

The sweetness of the apples captivated the siblings, who nibbled on them delicately as if savoring rare delicacies, though they had no idea what those delicacies tasted like.

To Su Zhaozhao, the apples were a bit sour, after all, it wasn't the season for Fuji apples yet.

It was late at night, and it was time to sleep.

Standing by the bed, Su Zhaozhao was in a dilemma. There was only one mattress, already laid on the bed in the east room. The double bedsheet hadn't dried yet, but there were two single sheets that could be used here...

Should they go to the west room and sleep on the hard kang?

Or should they squeeze together on the bed in the east room?

Gu Heng picked up a quilt, "You take the children and sleep here. I'll sleep in the west room."

"The kang in the west room has no padding, it's too hard. Why don't you take this quilt over and use it as padding for now?"

Gu Heng declined, "No need. It would be a waste to put such a good quilt underneath. I've slept on the ground during military campaigns before. You all sleep first."

With that, he walked out.

Su Zhaozhao: ...Oh well, no more worries.

Chapter 28: A Father Who Is Particularly Good at Saving Money

On the first night in their new home, Su Zhaozhao slept very soundly.

She stretched her arms wide even before opening her eyes.

There were no curtains on the windows yet, and the sunlight outside illuminated the room brightly.

Wait a moment!

Sunlight?

Su Zhaozhao sat up abruptly. What time is it?

She didn't see Gu Xiang or Gu Nian in the bedroom, and there was no sound from outside.

When she went out to check, the house was empty, the gate was closed, and the new bed sheets that hadn't been hung yesterday were now on the clothesline in the yard.

The soil in the vegetable patch looked moist, indicating it had already been watered.

Su Zhaozhao went to the kitchen, where a small aluminum pot for cooking was placed on the coal stove, with a faint smoke rising from the edges. When she lifted the lid, she saw a bowl of porridge with a poached egg inside.

Judging by the amount, they must have already eaten.

She had slept so deeply that she didn't even know when they got up or when they left.

After washing the bowl, the front door was pushed open from the outside. Gu Heng returned with Gu Xiang and Gu Nian, each carrying something.

Gu Nian held several books, some pens, and newspapers.

Gu Xiang carried a basin containing soap, toothpaste, towels, and other toiletries, as well as a thermos.

Gu Heng had the most items, carrying a large box in one hand and two big mesh bags in the other. One bag contained shoes, an umbrella, and hangers, while the other had a flashlight, a water cup, and some bottles.

Seeing her, Gu Xiang asked, "Mom, have you eaten? Dad made breakfast."

"Yes."

"Mom, we're going to help Dad move things from his dormitory back home." Gu Nian ran into the house and placed the books on the desk in the east room, against the wall.

Do we need a bookshelf in the house?

The children will have more and more books in the future, and textbooks should be kept properly. What if they want to take the college entrance exam again when they're in their thirties?

People of Gu Xiang and Gu Nian's age are both fortunate and unfortunate. They graduate from high school just as the college entrance exam is canceled, followed by the mass movement of educated youth to the countryside. Ten years later, when the exam resumes, they will be in their thirties.

Su Zhaozhao doesn't want them to suffer in the countryside for another ten years. After they graduate, she must arrange their jobs before any mandatory policies are implemented!

She doesn't plan to have another child for nearly ten years. The birth year of the next child must be after 1965 to perfectly avoid the rural relocation, and whether they can catch the first wave of the college entrance exam is not important. What matters is ensuring they don't suffer.

Don't talk about how hardship can temper a person or how suffering in youth leads to happiness in old age. She doesn't buy into that.

Her children deserve to be happy and content.

If they are unhappy or discontent, it means she and their father have failed!

Before leaving for the military, Gu Heng took out an iron box from the luggage he brought back, which used to hold cookies.

Do people nowadays like to store valuable items in iron boxes?

"This contains the family's savings book. Keep it safe."

Su Zhaozhao's eyes lit up, "Such a valuable item, you should keep it yourself."

If her eyes weren't so bright, her words might have been more convincing.

Gu Heng smiled quickly, "Take it."

"Alright!" Su Zhaozhao reached out to take it, instinctively shaking it. It jingled.

"There's also a watch inside. It's from the spoils of war, and my former superior gave it to me as a reward. You can wear it; it's convenient for telling time."

Su Zhaozhao tried to decline, "You should wear it."

Gu Heng displayed his wrist, "I have one, but this one isn't suitable for me." He wore a plum blossom watch.

Su Zhaozhao opened the lid. Indeed, it wasn't suitable. It was a ladies' watch, with a small square face and a leather strap twisted together in thin bands. By modern standards, it looked quite vintage.

It seemed to be a foreign brand. She leaned in to examine the letters on the dial closely. Oh my! Rolex!

Su Zhaozhao cleared her throat, "It doesn't look cheap."

"Whether it's cheap or not, it's just a watch." Gu Heng glanced at his wristwatch, "I'm off to the military."

As soon as he left, Su Zhaozhao almost jumped up. Oh my, she could actually wear a Rolex in this lifetime!

In modern times, such a watch would cost tens of thousands, and here it might be around five or six hundred?

She never thought she would wear a luxury watch in the 1950s. Quite interesting.

Putting the watch aside, Su Zhaozhao picked up the savings book from the box, flipping through the pages. There were only deposits, no withdrawals. Each deposit was either three hundred or two hundred yuan, up to the latest page, which showed a balance of 3,138 yuan, with some interest.

Gu Heng is really good at saving!

In an era where a stick of fried dough costs four cents, what does three thousand mean?

Over the years, he must have hardly spent any money. The most he probably spent was on the watch on his wrist.

Here it is, here it is.

Su Zhaozhao held the passbook with delight, determined to find a good place to hide it!

"Mom, what are you doing?"

Just as Su Zhaozhao emerged from under the bed, she was caught red-handed by Gu Nian.

She patted the dust off her clothes, "Nothing, I just dropped something in there."

Gu Nian offered to help, "Did you get it? Let me help you pick it up."

Su Zhaozhao stopped her daughter from crawling under the bed, "I got it, I got it. Look, it's this one." She took out the watch from her pocket and showed it to her.

"Wow!" Gu Nian's eyes sparkled, "Is this a watch too?" She had never seen such a beautiful watch before; it was different from the one her father wore.

"Yes, isn't it nice? Your father gave it to me." Su Zhaozhao put it on her wrist.

Gu Nian nodded, "It's so pretty! Dad is so nice!" She quickly called her brother over, showing off, "Brother, look, Dad gave Mom a very pretty watch!"

Gu Xiang also thought it was beautiful, "I heard watches are very expensive. This one must be expensive too, right?"

Gu Nian: "How expensive?"

Su Zhaozhao: "..."

Can you control yourself? Can you stop looking so pained?

"It didn't cost anything. This is a war trophy your father captured during his battles. It was given to him as a reward."

A relieved sigh.

"Really great!"

"Dad is so capable!"

Yes, your father is very capable, able to get a watch without spending any money.

Forget it, let's take it slow. Once our life becomes more comfortable, this habit of being stingy about spending money will naturally change.

If it doesn't... I'm really worried that my dear children won't be able to find a spouse in the future.

The mattress was delivered in the afternoon, a single size at half the price of a double, so two of them cost six yuan.

After laying down the mattress, the sheets and duvet covers that had been drying outside were now dry. Su Zhaozhao, along with Gu Xiang and Gu Nian, started setting up the beds and arranging the house.

The large kang in the west room was divided into two, with the wall in the middle painted snow white, matching the rest of the walls.

They laid down earth-colored cotton sheets and bedding, simple and elegant.

The two children now had their own separate beds.

For now, this arrangement would do. When they grow a few years older, the new family building should be completed.

Chapter 29 The Miser

Drawing the curtains dimmed the room slightly, but since sleeping in was not an option, it didn't matter if the light was blocked; it was enough to obscure the view from outside.

The room contained only a kang (a traditional heated bed) and a desk, making it feel rather empty. "We should add a curtain later to divide the space into inner and outer sections, using the outer part as a study and the inner part as a bedroom."

She planned to do this for both rooms.

Gu Xiang and Gu Nian followed her around, occasionally chiming in with their own ideas.

"Let's build a brick wall."

"Forget about building a wall. There's only one window here, and a wall would block all the light." If they were going to build a wall, they would have done it already.

"Then what should we use?"

"A fabric curtain, just like the window curtains."

"Mom, that's too expensive, it wastes fabric!" Gu Nian looked disapproving. How could they use fabric for curtains? It would require so much material!

Gu Xiang shook his head, also disapproving. "How about a reed curtain? We can weave it ourselves, and there are reeds by the roadside."

Su Zhaozhao imagined how a reed curtain might look... automatically picturing scenes from period dramas, theme restaurants, and tea houses.

If woven well, it could look quite nice!

A rustic, vintage style!

It would fit their home perfectly.

The only question was... whether she could weave it herself.

"Alright, when you see reeds, gather some. When your father has time, he can weave them. You still have school to attend." Su Zhaozhao passed the task off to Gu Heng.

He could handle anything, from farming to carrying a gun; he definitely could!

...

"Are those your twins?"

On a small slope by the road, a few half-grown children were pulling reed stalks from the reed beds. Zhou Ming pointed to a brother and sister among them.

His own son was there too, laughing heartily, clutching his stomach at something amusing.

Gu Heng looked up. "Yes, that's them."

What were they doing pulling reed stalks?

Gu Heng didn't realize he owed two reed curtains.

The children saw them too.

Zhou Xiaojun shouted at the top of his lungs, "Dad!"

Zhou Ming cupped his ear. "I heard you." From such a short distance, it sounded like they were miles apart.

Gu Xiang and Gu Nian called out to their father.

Gu Heng responded, pointing to Zhou Ming. "This is Uncle Zhou."

"Hello, Uncle Zhou."

Though they lived next door, Zhou Ming worked early mornings and late nights, so they hadn't met in days.

Zhou Ming smiled warmly. "Hello, feel free to visit Uncle Zhou's house anytime."

He then said to Gu Heng, "They look just like you! It's as if they were carved from the same mold."

"Of course they do; I'm their father." Gu Heng straightened his back, finally experiencing the pride others felt when complimenting their children.

"Why are you pulling reed stalks?"

Gu Nian held a bundle of reed stalks. "To weave a reed curtain. Mom said we need it for the house."

Hearing this, Zhou Ming lowered his voice and asked Gu Heng, "Is everything alright at home? If there's any trouble, just let me know, don't keep it to yourselves."

"Everything's fine." Gu Heng couldn't understand why they needed a reed curtain when they had plenty of savings.

"That's good."

Zhou Ming didn't think Gu Heng would be short of money. Living alone for so many years with no expenses and a decent salary, who else could be richer?

That could only mean one thing.

He patted Gu Heng on the shoulder. "Men handle external affairs while women manage the household. A woman needs money to take care of the family well."

Gu Heng understood immediately.

How could the male lead be foolish?

The male lead wouldn't be stingy or unwilling to give his wife money.

Gu Heng was speechless. Great, now he was the miser.

"Don't jump to conclusions." He left these three words, gesturing for Gu Xiang and Gu Nian to come home.

A pot of porridge was simmering on the stove, and Su Zhaozhao was preparing a cold dish, mixing thin cucumber strips and shredded cabbage. Hearing the voices, she looked up. "You're back."

"We're back." Gu Heng entered the house first, took off his military uniform, and then came out to wash his face, wiping his neck and exposed shoulders and arms.

The towels at home were hung on the washbasin stand under the eaves. The stand also held a soap dish. Gu Heng carefully rubbed the towel with soap and then hung it back up.

He had excellent hygiene habits.

Su Zhaozhao had seen people use their towels until they were greasy, especially the side that was used most often, which would change color from the rest due to not being washed promptly after use, leading to a noticeable difference over time.

It was great that Gu Heng had such good hygiene habits; she didn't need to think of ways to improve them.

Living together could be quite trying if their hygiene habits were different.

After washing his face, Gu Heng went into the kitchen. "Why did you think of weaving a grass curtain?"

"To serve as a partition," Su Zhaozhao explained her idea. "It won't block too much light, but it will provide some privacy so that the bed isn't visible as soon as you enter."

"I think the curtains are fine..." Before Gu Heng could finish, he saw Su Zhaozhao looking at him with a helpless expression. "What's wrong?"

"How wasteful!" She used her daughter's words to silence him.

Gu Heng paused for a moment. "There's no need to be too frugal. We have money, and if it runs out, we can withdraw more. If you run out of cash, let me know. You should buy some new clothes."

They had been here for a few days, and she was still wearing patched clothes. A small wicker trunk couldn't even hold all three of their outfits...

His wife was too thrifty, and Gu Heng felt a bit worried about it.

"We've commissioned a tailor to make some clothes, but they're not ready yet." Su Zhaozhao tasted the flavor and offered a piece to Gu Heng.

Gu Heng instinctively opened his mouth.

"How does it taste?"

Sour and spicy!

Gu Heng nodded. "Delicious."

Su Zhaozhao smiled. "Of course it is, it's my secret recipe!"

She learned it from a video tutorial on a certain app.

Gu Heng smiled. "I've arranged for Gu Xiang's school enrollment. I'll take them to register tomorrow. Do you want to come along?"

"Yes." Su Zhaozhao remembered the dinner invitation. "How about inviting everyone over for dinner tomorrow night?"

"Sure, but there might be quite a few people."

"How many roughly?"

"About a dozen. Since I invited Lao Yan, I can't not invite the other cadres in the unit. Lao Zhou's family next door definitely needs to be invited, and I'm not sure if they'll bring their families. There are also those who helped us a few days ago."

"Then we'll prepare two tables." Two tables should be enough.

Gu Heng nodded. "I'll come back early tomorrow to help. I'll also pick up a few meat dishes from the canteen. You just need to cook some simple side dishes at home."

If he could save some effort, that would be better. Gu Heng could get meat dishes from the canteen, but she wasn't sure if she could find the ingredients for meat dishes at the market.

After the porridge was cooked, Su Zhaozhao made a few egg pancakes.

It was very simple: mix two tablespoons of flour with three eggs and water, add some chopped green onions, heat the pan with a little oil, pour the slightly thick batter into the pan, and rotate the pan handle to spread the batter evenly. Flip it once, and when it's done, take it out and start the next one.

A large bowl of batter could make several large pancakes, perfect for serving with porridge.

The green onion and egg pancakes were indeed very popular, so much so that Su Zhaozhao wondered if she hadn't made enough?

Chapter 30: Millet and Eggs

After dinner, Gu Heng did the dishes.

This man was observant and didn't leave all the housework to his wife. He had handed over control of the family finances, and these two points alone made him better than most men in modern society.

He was also incredibly handsome, rich, and good-looking, almost perfect.

Su Zhaozhao's heart fluttered again, thinking about how they would be sleeping in the same bed tonight, and she felt a small sense of anticipation.

"The bathwater is already in the basin," Gu Heng said as he came out of the kitchen, carrying a large iron kettle used for boiling water. He filled it at the tap and carried it back to pour cold water into the large iron basin, testing the temperature before going out to fill another kettle and placing it on the coal stove to heat up.

It was hot, and with the conditions available, Su Zhaozhao bathed every day. The public bathhouse wasn't open every day, so when it was closed, she had to bathe at home. Without a bathtub, the large iron basin used for washing clothes came in handy. She could sit in it and manage a simple wash.

A large kettle of water was heating on the stove, and the large iron basin was on the floor. Gu Heng knew it was for bathing; he had helped pour the water into the basin last night since Su Zhaozhao couldn't lift it.

Su Zhaozhao went into the room to get her change of clothes. When she opened the wardrobe, most of the clothes inside were Gu Heng's, mostly military uniforms. Her and the children's clothes occupied a small corner.

Of course, this made it look like his clothes were more numerous, but in reality, he didn't have many. For each season, he had only about three or four sets, some newer, some half-worn, and some clearly old with frayed edges.

From the wardrobe, Su Zhaozhao took an undershirt and a pair of large underpants.

On the bed lay the clothes she had worn to sleep last night, not pajamas, but she used them as such.

She needed to make a couple of sets of pajamas; there were so many things they lacked.

Carrying everything, she went to the kitchen, closed the door behind her, and undressed, sitting down in the basin.

The large iron basin wasn't as deep as a bathtub, so Su Zhaozhao washed carefully to avoid wetting the floor.

Her body was quite fair, except for her neck, face, and hands and feet, which were exposed to the elements and had become rough from hard work. Her hands were dry and calloused, and if she touched Gu Heng with them, he might only feel irritation.

At that moment, all her anticipation vanished.

When she finished and came out, she saw Gu Heng reading a book and telling stories to the two children.

In the book, the male protagonist had attended school for a few years, graduating from elementary school before moving to the provincial capital to learn accounting at a large restaurant.

Su Zhaozhao had seen the books Gu Heng brought home; they were all about military and politics, with no novels or traditional literature.

Gu Heng was telling them about past battles, flipping to the pages with maps and pointing them out, "This is Ruijin..."

"Who wants to bathe first, Gu Xiang or Gu Nian?"

"Sister should go first," Gu Xiang pointed at Gu Nian.

Gu Nian: "Brother should go first." The usually affectionate siblings now wouldn't yield to each other.

Gu Heng patted both their shoulders, "We'll continue after you finish."

He got up and went to the kitchen, lifting the large iron basin with effort and pouring the water into the sink below the tap.

The sink was connected to the drain, and the water flowed away.

To finish quickly and continue listening to their father's stories, the siblings didn't wait in line. Gu Nian bathed inside, while Gu Xiang followed Gu Heng to the yard to wash. It was dark, and no one would see them anyway.

Gu Heng wore shorts and was bare-chested, wiping himself with a towel soaked in water.

Gu Xiang followed his father.

Father and son had already shared baths at the public bathhouse, so neither felt embarrassed.

Su Zhaozhao secretly admired Gu Heng's muscles, then reluctantly turned her gaze away.

She really didn't want to irritate the male protagonist.

When Gu Heng entered the room, Su Zhaozhao was already lying in bed, seemingly asleep. He quietly took off his outer pants and lay down on the other side, glancing at her back before turning off the light.

In the darkness, Su Zhaozhao opened her eyes and silently pouted.

The male protagonist really had no interest in her at all!

Look at how straight he slept, not even touching a corner of her clothes.

Rough men in literature were all liars!

Hmph!

"Still awake?"

Gu Heng's voice suddenly broke the silence.

Oh no! She had huffed.

Su Zhaozhao cleared her throat, "Not yet. Are you still awake too?" Her voice sounded dry.

Gu Heng moved slightly, the bed creaking softly.

"Mm-hmm," he replied softly.

Lying in bed late at night, exchanging soft sounds, it felt strangely intimate, making her feel awkward.

Feeling awkward, Su Zhaozhao changed the subject, "Can't weave straw mats, can you?"

"Mm-hmm."

Another "Mm-hmm"?

"Then try to find time to weave a couple," she suggested.

"Alright."

Finally, he stopped humming.

"I put the passbook you gave me this morning under the bed," Su Zhaozhao subconsciously let out a breath, "wrapped in cloth and stuffed under the mattress. I put the loose change at home in the drawer, in the iron box you gave me. The tickets are in there too. If you need to use them, just take them yourself."

"Alright, I know."

Su Zhaozhao turned her head to look at him, did she hear him laugh?

What was there to laugh about?

Was it funny that she hid the passbook?

"Go to sleep!"

Su Zhaozhao turned over and closed her eyes.

She thought she wouldn't be able to fall asleep, but when she opened her eyes, it was already morning.

No one beside her, she heard faint sounds from outside. Changing into her sleeping clothes, Su Zhaozhao left the bedroom.

Gu Heng was making breakfast in the kitchen, while Gu Xiang and Gu Nian were brushing their teeth and washing their faces.

"You're up."

"Mm-hmm." Su Zhaozhao responded, picked up the enamel cup and toothbrush on the windowsill, squeezed some toothpaste, and stood by the sink to brush her teeth.

By the time she finished washing up, breakfast was ready. As usual, it was porridge with an egg poached in it.

"...Actually, I think frying the egg would be good too, to go with the porridge." It's important to encourage a man who cooks, so Su Zhaozhao made her suggestion very tactfully.

Gu Heng paused with the chopsticks holding the egg, "I'll fry it tomorrow." Then he took a big bite of the egg.

Su Zhaozhao suddenly realized, could it be that he doesn't know how?

Right, the book never mentioned the male lead cooking, mostly focusing on the female lead taking care of the family and balancing her career.

In her original memories, she had never seen Gu Heng in the kitchen.

"Captain Gu, can you only make porridge with a poached egg?" Su Zhaozhao smiled slyly.

Gu Heng was taken aback by the sudden call of "Captain Gu," and the next words left him at a loss for how to respond.

Looking into her sparkling eyes, Gu Heng cleared his throat, "I haven't made anything else. When we were on the march during battles, the best sickbay meal was congee with a poached egg."

Su Zhaozhao didn't ask anymore. He must have eaten it, and made it for others, which is why he could poach eggs so well.